Highly Commended
A Global First: Calling for a Dementia Medicines Taskforce
Summary of work
Dementia is a devastating disease, estimated to cost the UK £26bn a year – a figure that’s expected to rise. With no new treatments for nearly 20 years, families have been forced to endure the same heartbreak and lack of hope across generations. But we are at a tipping point for progress.
The UK has made great progress in dementia research over the last decade, which has helped to create a rich research ecosystem. OVID Health was commissioned by Alzheimer’s Research UK (ARUK) to devise and deliver a communications campaign to secure Government dementia funding commitments and we did this through calling for the creation of a dementia medicines taskforce (DMT).
The vision for the DMT was to take the learnings of the globally revered UK vaccines taskforce, and leverage a number of creative campaign assets to secure high-level buy-in via the media and stakeholder events.
Within six months, we secured an unprecedented Prime Ministerial pledge to launch the DMT. The DMT will help secure access to new therapeutics for dementia patients in the UK over the next decade.
Judges’ comments
This entry by OVID Health and Alzheimer's Research UK was exceptionally well written with a brilliant narative of the story. It had a huge impact and it was clear that they knew what they want to change with a clear focus. The tactics were innovative, great results and from the begining to the end it was well argued. Plus, it achieved fantastic outcomes!
